Improvement in trunk-locks



LOUIS HILLEBRAND, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN TRUNKLOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 87,931, dated March 16, 1869.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LoUIs HILLEBRAND, of the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Locks 5 and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, suflicient to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to fully understand and use the same.

In locks, especially in trunk-locks as now manufactured, where a swinging bolt is used, the keys cannot turn all the way around, and in all locks where the bolts are operated on by a spring, generally known as spring-locks, the spring only works or pushes in one direction, and whenever the hasp is pushed in it becomes fastened and as it is desirable to have a bolt thrown forward or backward by a spring operating without the friction ineidental to rubbing horizontally on it, thereby causing it soon to wear out, I have endeavored to form a lock that shall work with little or no friction, and have a double-acting spring working only on its ends, whereby the whole benefit is obtained from it, and the power equally divided. The spring not being checked or weakened by rivets o r other fastenings, the most free and easy motion is obtained.

ln the drawings, Figure l is a view of the interior arrangement of the lock with all its parts in place. Fig. 2 is a view of the same as provided with a tumbler. Fig. 3 is a side view ofthe bolt.

I cast a solid bolt, A, of suitable size, having an opening, C, (shown at Figs. l and 2,)

and a pivot, b, (shown at Fig. 3,) working in a hole in the case of the lock, at a point in a line with the key-post f, and the opening across which the bolt is thrown to secure the hasp or staple. When the pivot is placed in its hole, with the openin g C surrounding the key-post,

the key works clear of the lower part of the bolt, and operates against either side of the angular part of the opening. At one side of the bolt is a projecting arm or head, B, for entering the hasp, and on the opposite side a notch, d,- and when a tumbler is added, this notch is cut in the tumbler. Into this notch one end of a slightly-curved spring, E, is placed, the other end of the spring resting either in the adjacent corner of the case of the lock or against some part near thereto. The action of this spring may be in either direction, and throws the bolt to the right or left, as soon as the key has moved the bolt, until the point of contact of the lower part of the spring is out of a line drawn from the upper end of the spring' to the pivot. This arrangement may be varied, for the forceof the spring is obtained by shortening the distance between the ends of the spring by pressure upon them, and making it assume a greater curve.

In straight or sliding bolts, a similar spring can be attached, and the same results are obtained. In this case the spring acts when the lower end has passed, in either direction, the perpendicular of the upper end.

It is obvious that as the points of contact are small, very little friction ensues.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A single spring so set that one of' its ends bears solidly against a point ofthe bolt, so as .to throw the bolt backward and forward after being started by the key, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

To the above I have signed my name this 17 th day of November, 1868.

LOUIS HILLEBRAN D. Vitnesses: K

WM. A. WIEDERSHEIM,

H. M. WIEDERSHEIM. 

